Automatic tape measure



NOV. 13, v S E AUTOMATI C TAPE MEASURE Filed May 28, 1946 0 l8 V IO A A 1 2| V l.

F72. i YELLOW i 2% i L Rep I 2 5 4 5 6 8 9 IO H R r H n I HI 1| fi I! r f -L T {GREEN 1' T T 1 BLUE I w k i 5" '2 5 INVENTOR. l z Z65 Z. JI yQ Qr Patented Nov. 13, 1951 AUTOMATIC TAPE 'ME'AsunE Vilasl Snyder, Wichita, Kans; I

f i tpplicationg 2s, ie idsamrnol 672,814

2 Claims. (01. 33-437) This invention relates to an automatic divider of any certain distance into a given number of equal spaces.

By simply stretching "any portion of the tape, divisible in feet or inches, by the number of spaces desired, the tape markings automatically indicate where equal divisions are to be made on a surface.

This automatic spacer eliminates the need to figure in fractional parts of feet or inches, as is the base if done in the usual way.

The automatic spacer has many uses, such as determining the proper spacing for bricks or .stone walls, both vertical and horizontal, spacing expansion joints in sidewalks, as well as sidings, shingles, joists, studding, rafters, window and door openings, balusters, stair risers and treads, posts and pickets in fences, shelving in stores and other buildings, cabinets and other mill work, logs and lumber to be cut into equal lengths or widths, wood and steel lattice work, spacing bolt or rivet holes in wood, steel and other material, besides being useful in many other ways.

In many instances, the tape can also be used as an ordinary tape in measuring distances in the usual way.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the spacing tape;

Figure 2 is a vertical section on line 22 of Figure 1; and

Figure 3 is a portion of a tape marked off in colored division lines according to this invention.

The invention consists of three main parts, namely a tape ID, a zero-mark clamp ll secured at one end of the tape and an adjusting clamp l2 made to slide along the tape and to be clamped thereon at a distance from the zero and equal to the length to be subdivided.

The zero clamp consists of a handle or marker 13, preferably a thin flat plate, adapted for standing at or to be pushed down into a slit or mark in the ground or other surface from which the measuring is to take place. To this handle the zero end of the tape I is permanently secured as by a securing plate l4 riveted to said handle at 15. Beneath this end portion of the tape a relatively short length of a. reinforcing strap [6 is shown cemented thereto and hinged at H to the side flanges l8 of the handle l3. In this manner it will be possible to fold the handle I3 over the tape [0 for convenience in transportation.

The adjusting clamp i2 also is provided with a flat plate handle with side flanges 2| to which is hinged at 22 a similar length of strap 23, over which the tape I0 is drawn and passed upward between the handle plate 20 and a spring-actuated clamping lever 24 hinged at 25 on the side flanges 2!.

With said lever 24 in raised position, as in Figure 2, the tape is clamped tightly against the handle plate 20. With said lever lowered the tape [0 is free to run in and out through the adjusting clamp [2.

If now a certain length on the tape, as for instance, one foot, is marked off in three equal parts by red division lines; in four parts by yellow lines; in five parts by blue lines; and in seven parts by green lines and in eleven parts by violet lines, and this manner of dividing repeated for every subsequent foot of tape, then it will be easy to mark ofi equal spaces, on the surface to be divided, in a desired number of parts, from the colored tape lines corresponding to such division.

The color scheme and color combination markings on the automatic spacing tape make all markings more easily discernible, enabling one to instantly distinguish one'marking from its adjoining markings by its color or color combination.

It is to be understood that the invention as herein disclosed may be varied from the details described and shown without departure from the spirit of the subjoined claims.

I claim:

1. A measuring device of the character described comprising a tape, a pair of spaced elongated fiat handle members, one of said members having the zero end of the tape secured to the inner side'thereof intermediate its ends, each of said members having a relatively short length of strap connected to its inner side intermediate its ends and along the top of which the tape extends, and means carried by the other of the members for adjustably securing the free end portion of the tape to the inner side of the same above the connected end of the strap, the said members having the end portions thereof extending below the point of connection of the tape and said straps therewith to facilitate the positioning of the two members in a required spaced relation to hold the tape in adjusted stretched state in overlying relation with respect to said straps and the work.

2. A measuring device of the character described eomprising a measuring tape, a pair of elongated flat rigid handle members, each of said members having a relatively short length 3 of strap attached thereto at points intermediate the ends of the same for pivotal movement on an axis extending transversely thereof, said tape being secured at its zero end to the inner side of one of the members and extending lengthwise on said straps toward the other of the members, and means carried by the said other of the said members for adjustably securing the free end portion of said tape ,to the last men; tioned fii'embr, the zero end portion of said tape also being cemented to the upper side of the underlying strap length.

VILAS L. SNYDER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of reoord file of this patent:

Number 4 t UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Clough Aug. 17, 1897 Richardson June 15, 1909 Morse June 18, 1918 Ballou May 13, 1919 Herrman Mar. 29, 1921 l 3allou Jan. 10, 1922 F'Qi'der ug. '26, 1924 Sept '22, 1931 Browning Nov. 23, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain May 28, 1907 959m Britain May 27, 1909 France Jan. 27, 1905 

